Cotton Praises Nomination of Pompeo to Lead State Department: ‘Outstanding Selection’

Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) called Mike Pompeo an "outstanding election" to be the next Secretary of State on Tuesday, praising his views on national security and relationships with world leaders.

Pompeo, the current CIA Director, has been picked by President Donald Trump to replace Rex Tillerson, who lasted less than 14 months in the administration.

"Mike Pompeo is an outstanding selection as our next Secretary of State," Cotton said. "Mike’s deep understanding of world affairs, his clear-eyed view of the threats to our national security, and his key relationships with world leaders make him an excellent choice to be our top diplomat."

Cotton also praised the selection of Gina Haspel, Pompeo's deputy, to be the next CIA Director. Her nomination by Trump ends speculation that Cotton could be the next pick to lead the agency when Pompeo left.

"While it’s a loss for the CIA, Gina Haspel is also an excellent choice to become the new CIA Director," Cotton said. "A true professional with decades of experience at the Agency, Gina has worked closely with Mike and the national-security team over the last year. I look forward to supporting them both during the confirmation process and working with them in the years to come."